Category Archives: Hourglass Cosmetics

Makeup needs to work for you. Plain and simple. With the spike in BB creams and foundations that do more than just cover and actually treat skin, it seems appropriate that primers would steer this way as well. Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum represents the next-gen base for makeup. Its primary value prop is skincare with a powerhouse of plant extracts, vitamins and essential oils to perfect your complexion.

Why No. 28? 14 essential oils + 10 lipid-rich oils + 4 vitamins = 28

It’s skin-softening, hydrating and nutrient-rich formula is an ideal base for makeup. Hourglass added some silicone, which gives it a nice slip, and helps makeup go on smoother. While silicones aren’t my favorite, I ain’t mad at ‘em here. The 28 other ingredients make up for it and I’ll admit, I like the silky texture.

The essential oils all help to soothe the skin in some way. Lavender is a known healer. Orange peel has natural toning properties. Vanilla is relaxing. Geranium is balancing. Rosemary is decongesting. And, the 10 plant oils bring the moisture. Cherry Pit is conditioning to the skin. Green tea brings the antioxidant power. Evening Primrose is neutralizing. Rose Hip Seed is regenerative. Vitamins A, B5, C and E join the party, too, and make those plant oils work a little harder.

So how to wear No. 28? Under makeup but over moisturizer? First thing after you wash your face? What about SPF? According to Hourglass, you make the rules. I prefer it over moisturizer , directly underneath my makeup. But, you can ever wear this at night with no makeup at all. Hourglass even says you put it in your hair – though we haven’t tested it that way yet.

The benefits of priming with plant oils will be seen over time. This is an innovation we totally dig.

For something that shifts texture, it’s really unique. It starts out as a thin liquid, and then it just sort of disappears into a velvet matte finish that wears like heaven all day. The liquid to powder transformation is straight up cool. Hourglass calls it “miracle makeup for oily skin” and I think that’s accurate but limiting. I do not have oily skin (anymore) and I find this to be perfect. Wouldn’t recommend it for very dry skin, but the formula is not drying. It is, however, oil-free and water resistant, two more props for its longwearing capes.

Oh, and about the luxe part. It’s Hourglass, which is your first clue. A brand we appreciate so much for its attention to detail and care for aging skin. There are two powerful anti-aging ingredients in this that we truthfully have never heard of but are completely intrigued by:

Phytostem Edelweiss – an active derived from a rare plant from the Alps that slows collagen degradation and reduces wrinkle depth.

Lavandox – an ingredient extracted from Spanish lavender, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and inhibits muscle contractions.

What we do know is that this makes skin look better. Also, you can snag it at Sephora for 15% during the Beauty Insider sale currently going on now through April 5 (with code CHIC). Check it out here.

Kate Beckinsale looked stunning at the Golden Globes in that sparkly Roberto Cavalli. Her skin was looking extra radiant as well, and complemented the dress perfectly. Makeup artist Molly Stern wanted to keep Kate’s skin luminous and create a slight edge with the eyes.

To get the look:

Skin: Molly began by moisturizing Kate’s skin with Natura Bisse’s The Cure Cream. She then primed with Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer which creates a flawless canvas for makeup, followed by a light application of Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer in Sand.

Cheeks: She used the bronze tone in Hourglass Illume Crème-to Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset to add warmth to her skin, and followed with the blush tone applied on the apples of her cheeks. She then dusted Nars Miss Liberty high on her cheekbone to add an extra glow.

Eyes: Molly used the bronze shade of Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Gypsy as a base, and set it with Nars Galapagos Eye Shadow, smudged deep into the lid. For an extra pop of light, she dabbed Chanel’s Blazing Gold Ombré Essential over the inner lid. Her lashes are deep and jet-black due to Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara, followed by Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer which was painted over them for an extra kick of drama.

Lips: Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Crème lipstick in Fresco was used as a base on Kate’s lips, followed by Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss in Imagine for a glistening sheen.

The bad news is that Hourglass Cosmetics Color Link palettes are no longer available for sale at Sephora online. The good thing is that you can still pick this up in stores if you’re lucky enough to find them in stock, word is that these are being discontinued. You can also still get these palettes directly from Hourglass.

Each Hourglass Cosmetics Color Link palette features 2 blushes and 6 eyeshadows with a generous amount of product in each pan. The palette shown here is called Landscape and the shades are fairly neutral to work on just about anyone but there are also other options choose from. I initially wanted the Island palette but as my luck would have it, it was out of stock. Now as for the product in these beautiful little palettes, they are fabulous. I’m in love with these eyeshadows, they are so soft and the color payoff is great. These feel almost creamy to the touch. You could even use these eyeshadows as highlighters if you wanted, they blend effortlessly on the skin.

The palette itself pops out of it’s case, which confused me a little. I’m not exactly sure what you can do with the case because I didn’t see any products you could use in place of the palette. Maybe this is something to look forward to since their eyeliner and lipliner are refillable. I supose it’s good to know there may be a purpose for the case in the future.

I only have good things to say about Hourglass’s Shade Eyeshadow. I tried this in “Journey” and not only liked the cute pan but also found the texture very creamy and full of pigment. I have a pet peeve about eyeshadows that sprinkle onto your under eye area as you apply them so later you have a mess ruining your foundation…yes I know I could put my foundation on last but I don’t like to. Who can appreciate a good eye with an uneven skin tone? Well, the Hourglass’s Shade Eyeshadow will give you no bother in that department. I also love the dark purple color that gives a very sexy feel, a nice play on the usual smoky eye look. Although, I would like to see Hourglass create a palette that my eyeshadow singles could pop into but it won’t stop me from buying more.